Magic Pencil II

Our aim was to build on the success of the Magic Pencil exhibition and workshop led by Leo Duff from Kingston University in October 2003.

We have invited Leo back along with 3 design students from Kingston, to conduct follow-up workshops at the Lebanese American University - Byblos campus.

The workshops brought the British students from Kingston university together with those of the two Lebanese American University campuses, for a period of 5 days during which they worked on developing illustration techniques and exploring new materials.

A presentation of the work in progress took place on the last day on both campuses and was an enlightening experience to the attendees as much as the workshop was for the participants. This follow up workshop built a strong friendship and powerful ties between both universities and their students, in Lebanon and the UK.

Magic Pencil

Magic Pencil features over 70 artworks by 13 of Britain's most accomplished and innovative illustrators in print today.

Magic Pencil shows how today's illustrators reflect contemporary concerns wih equal force and originality; and their work incontestably establishes this as a second golden age of British illustration.

Leo Duff, British illustrator and head of the Drawing as Process research MA programme at Kingston University London, delivered a 3 day workshop for design students of the Lebanese American University - Beirut and Byblos branches. Leo also led a workshop for the British Council Teaching Centre Students using illustration as a means to practice written and oral English language skills.

Moreover, Leo Duff was able to give a presentation at LRC21 LAU, Beirut Campus, revealing the work in progress of the students as well as providing an insight into her work.

The exhibition and presentation brought together a number of students and professionals who were able to discern mutual interests and possible plans for future collaborative work in this field.

The Magic Pencil Exhibition event was organised in collaboration with the Lebanese American University and British Airways.

Picture This

We presented Picture This in collaboration with the Lebanese American University of Beirut, an exhibition on contemporary illustration from the UK. The opening took place on Wednesday 28 November at 1800 LAU- Beirut, Sheikh Zayed Hall.

The exhibition ran until Monday 10 December and was accompanied by a Computer animation workshop for senior LAU graphic design students. The workshop, led by Steve May, was a success and the students presented their assembled work to guests and professors on the last evening.

Also organised around the exhibition was the screening of animation films produced in the UK by British animators. These films were shown at LAU Beirut as part of the British Film Animation Week and a special screening of the making of Chicken Run was done on the final Friday.